Air Blast With Suction Patents (Class 15/345)
  • Patent number: 11964306
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of a system and method for operating a surface pressure washer with a wand component. The method may include the steps of cleaning a first surface through a first fluid path, where the first fluid path includes a pump, a pressure regulating valve, a diversion block, and a spray gun, while spray nozzles are not discharging fluid to a second surface, actuating a valve connected to the diversion block, thereby reducing the pressure available to the first fluid path and creating a second fluid path, where the second fluid path includes the pump, the pressure regulating valve, the diversion block and the spray nozzles, where the spray nozzles are configured to rotate above the second surface when the second fluid path is open, and cleaning a second surface underneath the pressure washer system through the second fluid path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Boyd Equipment & Supply LLC
    Inventors: Clayton Boyd, Jennifer Boyd
  • Patent number: 11957295
    Abstract: A pneumatic vacuum, cleaner includes an external body shell having an internal chamber defined therein and a dustbin carried within the internal chamber of the external body shell. The cleaner also includes an impeller housing positioned below the dustbin and having an inlet coupled to the dustbin. In addition, the cleaner includes an impeller within the impeller housing and is configured to pressurize air exiting the impeller housing. A manifold is mounted to the impeller housing and includes a plurality of air nozzles configured to direct air downward and away from the manifold to entrain debris into the air and simultaneously use the pressurized air to lift the cleaner. A concentric passageway is formed adjacent an inside surface of the external body shell and is configured to recirculate the pressurized air from the plurality of air nozzles back to the dustbin and the impeller housing via the concentric passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventor: Richard Hillery
  • Patent number: 11940142
    Abstract: Provided is an inflation assembly, which relates to the technical field of inflation technology, and includes a housing, a circuit board, a battery pack, an inflation pump, and a lighting lamp. The circuit board, the battery pack, the inflation pump, and the lighting lamp are all connected to the housing, the inflation pump, the lighting lamp, and the battery pack are all electrically connected to the circuit board; and a gas outlet of the inflation pump is exposed outside the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Inventor: Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 11911810
    Abstract: A cleaner to conduct dust-removing by jetting air from a dust-removing head 1 to a cleaned face 11 of a work W having the cleaned face 11 of three-dimensional configuration, in which the dust-removing head 1 is provided with a work-corresponding face 1a of three-dimensional offset configuration parted from the three-dimensional configuration of the cleaned face 11 for a small dimension G.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: TAKUSYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Soemoto, Hiroshi Uzawa
  • Patent number: 11786926
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods related to improving environmental protection and waste collection from application of deposition material using portable systems that are easier for operators to use on surfaces such as ship hulls are provided. Embodiments include a portable and repositionable deposition material applicator enclosure and application system for applying deposition material on a substrate employing non-adherent deposition material waste removal and selective enclosure coupling and decoupling structures or systems employing magnetic and suction or differential pressure based forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: John William Albrecht
  • Patent number: 11786094
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus is provided with a housing including an upright assembly and a base assembly moveably mounted to the upright assembly, the upright assembly forming a stalk, a fluid container provided on the housing, a fluid distributor provided in the base assembly in fluid communication with the fluid container, a working air path through the housing, a recovery container provided on the housing and defining a portion of the working air path, a suction source provided on the housing and defining a portion of the working air path, a suction nozzle provided on the base assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventors: Mitchell J. DeJonge, Seth Robert Clifford
  • Patent number: 11767853
    Abstract: There is provided a nozzle for a fan assembly. The nozzle comprises an air inlet, a first air outlet and a second air outlet that are oriented in convergent directions, and a valve for controlling the first and second air outlets. The valve comprises one or more valve members that are moveable to simultaneously adjust the size of the first air outlet and inversely adjust the size of the second air outlet. The nozzle further comprises a third air outlet and a fourth air outlet, the third air outlet being opposite the fourth air outlet, the third and fourth air outlets being oriented in convergent directions, and the third air outlet and the fourth air outlet each being substantially perpendicular to each of the first and second air outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Lucy Horton, Timothy Neil Jukes, Charles Edward Pouget, Joseph Robert Carling, Ryan Alexander Hughes, Steven Eduard Peet, Peter Harley
  • Patent number: 11738373
    Abstract: Apparatus for removing particulate matter from an enclosure having an internal space and an opening into the internal space, comprising: a cover positionable adjacent the opening so that the cover covers the opening; a gas source external to the internal space; an inlet conduit that in use extends through the cover and is adapted to direct gas from the gas source to at least one gas outlet within the internal space whereby particulate matter within the internal space is dislodged and entrained in gas within the internal space; a source of partial vacuum adapted to maintain a partial vacuum within the enclosed space and to draw gas and particulate matter entrained therein from the internal space firstly through an outlet conduit and then through a particulate matter separation means comprising at least one filter; a sensor for sensing concentration of particulate matter in gas leaving the enclosed space; a display adapted to provide to a user information on concentration of particulate matter leaving the in
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Inventors: David Hayden Collins, James Brett, James Forsyth, Rolf Meumann
  • Patent number: 11700983
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has an upright support structure pivotally mounted to a cleaning head. A portable surface cleaning unit is removably mounted to the upright support structure. The portable surface cleaning unit has a cyclone chamber, a dirt collection chamber exterior to the cyclone chamber and a suction motor. When the portable surface cleaning unit is mounted to the upright support structure and the upright support structure extends upwardly from the cleaning head, the upper end wall of the dirt collection chamber and the cyclone chamber end wall are an openable upper wall of the portable surface cleaning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 11622611
    Abstract: A hair dryer apparatus includes a housing with a surrounding sidewall having an inner surface defining an interior and an opposing outer surface, further the sidewall having an inlet and an opposing outlet. In addition, the hair dryer apparatus includes a motor driven blower disposed within the interior, the blower drives airflow from the inlet to the outlet. Additionally, the hair dryer apparatus includes a handle extending from the sidewall and a suction shroud that includes a solid base with an outer surrounding sidewall extending from the base, wherein the outer surrounding sidewall has an outer termination portion that is scarfed such that the outer termination portion extends from the base to offset lengths toward the sidewall outlet thus ultimately the blower suction being adjacent to the sidewall outlet for noise attenuation and reducing user hair entanglement in the blower suction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Inventor: Jacques Depoyian
  • Patent number: 11523726
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a floor cleaning apparatus, comprises a cleaning robot and a washing base, and the cleaning robot comprises a robot main body and a mop assembly; the mop assembly is provided with a turntable-type mop mechanism able to stretch out downwards; the washing base comprises an outer container, a rinse tank and a solution-feeding mechanism. In the technical scheme disclosed, the automatic floor cleaning and finishing cloth washing are achieved so as to realize intelligent automatic cleaning, effectively removing dirt attached to the finishing cloth automatically, and freeing from artificially detaching and then washing the finishing cloth stained with dirt, automatically performing washing operation, and greatly alleviating operation burden of a user. Meanwhile, with the structure of the finishing cloth with a lifting structure, secondary pollution caused by the finishing cloth is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: NINGBO FUJIA INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jianqiang Fang
  • Patent number: 11517162
    Abstract: A remaining water suction device having an air blowing function according to the present disclosure includes a suction and blowing integrated nozzle, a suction motor unit for providing a suction force to suction remaining water into the suction and blowing integrated nozzle, a drain tank for storing a liquid from the suction and blowing integrated nozzle, an air blowing module for supplying pressurized air to the suction and blowing integrated nozzle, and a main body with the suction and blowing integrated nozzle, the suction motor unit, the drain tank and the air blowing module mounted therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jong Seok Kim, Daeyun Park, Inhyung Yang
  • Patent number: 11498785
    Abstract: A system for removing carryback material from within a dump body of a haul truck includes a clean out implement. A controller is configured to determine the pose of the dump body, determine the pose of the clean out implement, determine a path of the clean out implement to remove carryback material from the interior surface of the dump body based upon a map of the carryback material, the pose of the dump body, and the pose of the clean out implement, and generate movement command signals to move the clean out implement along the path to perform a clean out operation on the interior surface of the dump body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Carl F. B. Hendricks
  • Patent number: 11484163
    Abstract: The electrical equipment dust collection system may comprise a cover panel, a vacuum port, a blow gun, a handle, and a light strip. The electrical equipment dust collection system may be a tool for removing dust from electrical equipment located inside of an equipment enclosure. The cover panel may be adapted to cover an open side of the equipment enclosure. An air hose fitting on the blow gun may be adapted to removably couple to a source of compressed air and the blow gun may direct a stream of air at the electrical equipment such that the dust is dislodged from the electrical equipment. A vacuum fitting on the vacuum port may be adapted to removably couple to a vacuum hose of a vacuum cleaner such that the vacuum cleaner may suction the dust out of the equipment enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Inventor: Christopher J. Zuckerman
  • Patent number: 11415757
    Abstract: The nozzle includes a nozzle body having a front end with a recess defining a recessed wall. The recess is elongate in a first direction. The recess receives a front-end section of a ferrule of a multi-fiber connector to define gap, wherein the front-end section has an elongate end face. The nozzle has first and second channels that are elongate in the first direction and have respective first and second front-end openings at the recessed wall. The first and second front-end openings are spaced apart in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A cleaning fluid flows from the first channel into the gap and then out the second channel, including over the ferrule end faces and end faces of optical fibers supported by the ferrule. A flow-disrupting feature on the recessed wall generates turbulent flow to enhance cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC
    Inventors: James Michael Brown, Elias Panides, Adam James Ruggles, Jingru Zhang Benner, Yi Zhang
  • Patent number: 11369979
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for a spray nozzle 100, 200, 600. A spray nozzle 100, 200, 600 includes a housing 102 with an inlet 104 and/or a nose cone 106. An axis of an inlet 104 is disposed perpendicular to an axis of a nose cone 106, the housing 102 comprising an internal chamber formed within the housing 102. A spray nozzle 100, 200, 600 includes a nozzle holder 204. A nozzle holder 204 is disposed within an internal chamber of a body. A nozzle holder 204 is secured at a nozzle seat 202 coupled to a nose cone 106. A distal end of a nozzle holder 204 is free to rotate within an internal chamber of a housing 102 along a conical path having a vertex at approximately a nozzle seat 202 of a body. A nozzle holder 204 comprises an internal fluid channel to direct a fluid stream from a distal end of the nozzle holder 204 to a nozzle seat 202.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: CHURCH & DWIGHT CO., INC.
    Inventors: Micheal Mercer, Jackson McReynolds
  • Patent number: 11137675
    Abstract: A method includes clamping a mask on a mask stage, in which the mask includes a multilayered magnetic film; performing a first lithography process by using the mask; moving the mask away from the mask stage; and determining whether a surface condition of a surface layer of the multilayered thin film is acceptable; and peeling the surface layer of the multilayered magnetic film from the multilayered magnetic film when the surface condition of the surface layer is determined as unacceptable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chi-Hung Liao, Ju-Wei Liao
  • Patent number: 11089927
    Abstract: A brushless vacuum device may include a vacuum head having a bottom side, a first and second exterior wall, a front end, and a back end. The first exterior wall and second exterior wall may be positioned on the bottom side and may be coupled together at the front end. A suction aperture may be positioned proximate to the front end. A first plurality of jets may extend along the first exterior wall between the suction aperture and the back end. A second plurality of jets may extend along the second exterior wall between the suction aperture and the back end. A suction conduit may be in communication with the suction aperture and may generate negative air pressure in the suction aperture. A pressure conduit may generate a positive air pressure in the first plurality and second plurality of jets. Air exiting the jets may be collected by the suction aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Awesome Things That Work, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph C. Neill
  • Patent number: 10808953
    Abstract: An extraction system is designed for metal working and other applications. The system may comprise a blower that delivers a positive pressure airflow to a hood that creates an air region for removal of airborne components from a work area. Return air is filtered in a filter region, and debris removed may be separated by a baffle in the filter region to limit re-uptake of the debris by the blower during operation of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Hammers, William Maske, Adam Joseph Frank
  • Patent number: 10602893
    Abstract: A self-propelled cleaning device has a housing, a fan and a surface cleaning system for cleaning a surface to be cleaned. In order to also be able to clean an above-floor surface, in particular a plateau of a baseboard, the cleaning device also has an above-floor cleaning system for cleaning an above-floor surface vertically offset relative to the surface to be cleaned. The above-floor cleaning system has a flow connection to a suction and/or blower unit having a fan, the flow opening of which has a difference in height of roughly 3 cm or more relative to a standing surface of the cleaning device by comparison to a usual orientation of the cleaning device for a cleaning operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Vorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Isenberg, Roman Ortmann, Christian Holz
  • Patent number: 10219660
    Abstract: A hand vacuum cleaner has a horizontally disposed cyclone with a dirt outlet provided in a lower portion of the cyclone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 10094083
    Abstract: Snow-clearing vehicle (1), having a sweeper-blower arrangement (10), wherein the sweeper-blower arrangement is adjustably pivotable around a vertical axis (13) which runs through the snow-clearing vehicle. The sweeper-blower arrangement has a sweeping-roller brush (4) which is rotatingly drivable around its longitudinal axis. In the direction of travel, blow-air openings (5, 6, 7, 8) arranged on both sides of the vertical axis are provided in front and along the sweeping-roller brush (4), which are arranged for simultaneous and identically acting blowing. This allows for an improved removal of the snow to be cleared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Marcel Boschung, AG
    Inventors: Kurt Wuillemin, Kurt Herzog
  • Patent number: 9961838
    Abstract: Apparatus includes a lawn debris collection assembly having a plenum assembly configured to be positioned in close proximate relationship with a lawn surface having lawn debris lodged between lawn blades of a lawn. The plenum assembly is movable along the lawn surface. The plenum assembly is also configured to house a positive air-pressure stream in such a way that the positive air-pressure stream is directed toward the lawn debris, and the positive air-pressure stream, in use, dislodges the lawn debris from between the lawn blades. The plenum assembly is also configured to house a negative air-pressure airstream in such a way that the negative air-pressure airstream, in use, flows from the plenum assembly to a debris-collection bag. The negative air-pressure airstream, in use, urges the lawn debris to move from the plenum assembly to the debris-collection bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Inventor: Corey Andri Horth
  • Patent number: 9901431
    Abstract: A medicament delivery tray and method of manufacture thereof for treating periodontal disease include an apparatus having a body formed to be fitted about all of the upper or lower teeth of a patient and having a top portion and an outer wall and an inner wall with each composed of resilient elastomeric material for substantially conforming to the enclosed teeth and gum tissue proximate to the teeth, the body having recesses, a treatment chamber and a raised seal formed about an inner surface of one of the skirts along a gum line and forming a substantially air tight seal thereto, and a port positioned on one of the skirts to receive a positive pressure from an external pressure source increasing a biasing force of the raised seal against the gum line when positive pressure is received through the port for sealing the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Inventor: Duane C. Keller
  • Patent number: 9803780
    Abstract: A planar sealing panel member for cleaning the condenser coils of a cooling appliance. This member has at least one hole in its surface to accommodate a hose supplying compressed air. It also has affixation means on its surface so as to hold the sealing panel against the cooling appliance adjacent the opening(s) holding the condenser coils to form a substantially sealed enclosure along with the appliance structure within which the coils reside when cleaned using compressed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: CoilPod LLC
    Inventor: Jacob F. Steinmann
  • Patent number: 9676178
    Abstract: A printer and a method of printing is disclosed. The printer includes a frame having a printing mechanism. The printing mechanism has an exterior surface, an inlet for receiving a leading edge of a film and an advancing mechanism. The printing mechanism also has a print head capable of depositing a plurality of ink droplets onto the advancing film and an outlet for allowing the printed film to exit. A lid is secured to the printing mechanism and is movable between a closed position, where the film is covered, and an open position, where the film is exposed. A first heating element is secured to the lid which heats the incoming air. A first fan is located adjacent to the first heating element and functions to direct the heated air onto the plurality of ink droplets. An inlet aperture is formed in the exterior surface of the printing mechanism which is aligned with the first fan. A cover having at least one opening formed there through is positioned over the inlet aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Einstein Graphic Services, LLC
    Inventor: Steve J. Mondloch
  • Patent number: 9539075
    Abstract: A device, method, and system are provided for aiding the whitening of teeth. The device includes a mouthpiece suitable for implementing a dental treatment, wherein the mouthpiece includes one or more stock dental cover layers suitable for forming a treatment cavity having a vacuum, wherein the dental cover layers includes a layer over the upper teeth and/or a layer over the lower teeth; and one or more treatment supply layers wherein the treatment supply layer has one or more flow channel in fluid communication with the treatment cavity so that the treatment supply layer can deliver and/or remove one or more treatment fluids from the treatment cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: MAVRIK DENTAL SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Daniel Sanders, Ben Zion Spector
  • Patent number: 9516980
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner blows hot air to dry objects to be cleaned and prevent adhesion of the objects. The vacuum cleaner includes a first bottom air inlet, a rear air outlet, a housing having an air passage for guiding first air from the first bottom air inlet to the rear air outlet, and an electric blower fan in the air passage to suck up the first air. The housing includes a headwind inlet that inhales second air from outside and guides its flow as a headwind against the flow of the first air preventing adhesion of objects to be cleaned. A bottom air outlet discharges hot air heated when passing by the electric blower fan. A flow direction changer changes the direction of the hot air to the rear and/or bottom air outlets. A user selectively controls the flow direction of the hot air toward the objects to be cleaned, thereby drying them. A headwind blows against the flow of air inhaled into the housing and prevents adhesion of the objects to be cleaned, thereby improving usability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: HOUSSEN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Byung Mi Kim
  • Patent number: 9510720
    Abstract: An automatic cleaner includes a casing having a suction port, a suction device disposed in the casing to suction foreign substances through the suction port, a moving device that moves the casing, and a side brush assembly movably installed on the casing. The side brush assembly includes a movable member movably disposed on the casing, a first driving device that generates power for moving the movable member, a brush rotatably mounted on the movable member, and a second driving device that generates power for rotating the brush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Jaewon Jang
  • Patent number: 9505041
    Abstract: A component extractor system includes a source of a positive pressure air stream and a source of a negative pressure air stream. Conduits convey the air streams to and from a work area where one or more nozzles create a capture region and draw airborne components into the system. The system is optimized in terms of flow ratios, dimensions of the conduits and elements of the nozzle, and so forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Brian J. Hammers, Bradley G. Carman
  • Patent number: 9468958
    Abstract: A extraction system is designed for metal working and other applications. The system may comprise a cart-type base or may be incorporated into a fixed or semi-fixed installation. A blower delivers a positive pressure airflow to a hood that creates an air region by directing the air through an annular space between inner and outer shrouds, impacting the air against a single generally perpendicular flange. Return air from the operation may be mixed with fresh air, both of which may be filtered, to supply the positive pressure air. Both air streams to and from the hood may be adjusted to optimize operation. Adjustments may be made at the base unit or remotely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Brian J. Hammers, Adam Joseph Frank, William Maske, Bradley G. Carman, Daniel P. McDonald, Gary Lind
  • Patent number: 9291391
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for drying a material or, more generally, flash evaporating a target substance having a vapor pressure threshold. The methods and systems include a conveyor conduit that receives material and within which a pressure is established that is greater than the vapor pressure threshold of the target substance. The material moves through the conveyor and is expelled into a pressure drop zone created by one or more venturi nozzles. The pressure in the pressure drop zone is far less than the vapor pressure threshold of the target substance. As the material encounters the pressure drop zone, the targeted substance in the material experiences a rapid and extreme pressure drop and simultaneously a rapid temperature increase. This causes the target substance in the material to flash evaporate virtually immediately. The resulting vapor is separated from the remaining material and the now dry material is collected for further processing or use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Flash Rockwell Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: John Hogan
  • Patent number: 9108229
    Abstract: A method for removing dust-carrying air from a moving paper web is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a moving web, the web having a first side and a second side, the web moving at a sufficient rate to produce a boundary layer of adjacent dust-carrying air; providing a NACA duct, the NACA duct having an intake opening and walls that diverge in increasing cross-sectional area to an exhaust opening having greater cross sectional area than the intake opening; and submerging the intake opening into the boundary layer to scavenge dust-carrying air from the boundary layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Brad Scott Lockhart, André Mellin, John Ferney McKibben, David Matthew Ogden, Brian Christopher Schwamberger, Peter Wiedmann, Richard Matthew Giachetto
  • Patent number: 9027187
    Abstract: A cleaning system used for removing contaminant particles on a surface of an image sensor is provided. The cleaning system includes an gas blower, two plate electrodes parallel to each other, and a high frequency voltage source. The gas blower supplies a mixed gas to the two plate electrodes. The high frequency voltage source provides a high voltage for the two plate electrodes to ionize the mixed gas, thereby the ionized gas cause contaminant particles on the surface of the image sensor to be positively charged, and cause the surface of the image sensor to be positively charged. The vacuum pump device removes the positively charged particles, which are repelled by the positively charged surface of the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jen-Tsorng Chang
  • Patent number: 9015901
    Abstract: A portable air blower includes: a first pipe having a first outlet opening communicating with a main body, the first pipe discharging wind generated in the main body through the first outlet opening; and a second pipe having a larger diameter than that of the first pipe, the second pipe being attached movably in the axial direction to the outer circumference of the first pipe and having a second outlet opening having a larger diameter than that of the first outlet opening. In the portable air blower, the second pipe is moved relative to the first pipe to dispose the second outlet opening upstream or downstream of the first outlet opening; the second pipe has an inflow window disposed upstream of the first outlet opening, the inflow window enabling air to flow from the outside into the second pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Maruyama Mfg. Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Shigeki Namekata, Junichi Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20150102554
    Abstract: A braking device 1 for braking advancing of the rear portion of a flat sheet when the sheet is advanced and is displaced by being pulled by its front portion: a surface over which the sheet is advanced, a suction hole 10 in the surface which communicates with an exhaust orifice 30 via an air circulation channel 20, a principal compressed air injection device 40 which, by a Venturi effect, indirectly generates a braking suction air flow through the suction hole 10, a secondary compressed air injection device 50 which, by a Venturi effect, indirectly generates a cleaning suction air flow through the suction hole 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Ansermot
  • Patent number: 8997307
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for collecting material from a surface. The apparatus comprises a chassis, a holding tank, a material collector and a pumping system. The chassis comprises wheels for relocating the apparatus on the surface. The holding tank is for receiving the material and is operatively coupled with the chassis. The holding tank has a material-entry aperture in a bottom surface. The material collector comprises a suction device, which is operatively coupled with the material-entry aperture. The suction device has an inlet that can be disposed adjacent the surface. The pumping system is operatively connected with the holding tank for depressurizing the holding tank and thereby gathering the material at least partially via suction through the inlet of the suction device and the material-entry aperture in the holding tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Loewen Welding & Manufacturing Ltd.
    Inventor: Wayne Raiche
  • Patent number: 8973211
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a detector comprising a housing and a bowl connected to the housing having a detector chamber adapted for enclosing a detector to be cleaned, a contacting surface positioned on the bowl, and one of more air nozzles positioned within the detector chamber for directing one or more bursts of compressed air at a detector to clean the detector, and a fan positioned within the housing operable to draw air within the detector chamber into a filter, and a dust collector for containing dirt and debris dislodged from a detector during the cleaning operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: HSI Fire & Safety Group, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Rote, Dan Johnson, Aaron B. Eiger
  • Patent number: 8966707
    Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a transport drive and control system arranged for autonomous movement of the robot over a floor for performing cleaning operations. The robot chassis carries a first cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arranged to suction loose particulates up from the cleaning surface and a second cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arraigned to apply a cleaning fluid onto the surface and to thereafter collect the cleaning fluid up from the surface after it has been used to clean the surface. The robot chassis carries a supply of cleaning fluid and a waste container for storing waste materials collected up from the cleaning surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher John Morse, Andrew Ziegler, Duane Gilbert, Jr., Andrew Jones
  • Patent number: 8961633
    Abstract: The invention relates to filter cleaning in a vacuum having a switchable flap element, the cleaning of the filter or of parts of the filter being carried out by supplying a secondary air flow to the interior of the filter to be cleaned, and air being able to flow through the filters separately from each other from the outside to the inside in the vacuum container in a sealed manner, and a flap element disposed in a chamber housing being pivotable, by means of the pivoting of which openings may be closed and released, the secondary air flow reaching the surface of the filter to be cleaned from the inside toward the outside in pulses, characterized in that the flap element comprises at least two partial flaps, the pivoting of which is actuated by a pivot drive, the respective partial flap optionally closes the outflow opening of the respective filter chamber in the direction of the intake opening of the suction turbine, the blow-out side of the suction turbine delivers the created overpressure air into an overp
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Nilfisk-Advance A/S
    Inventors: Martin Kienzle, Günther Werbach, Rainer Hafenrichter, Klaus Dietz
  • Patent number: 8960648
    Abstract: An arrangement for removing dust from the atmosphere during cleaning of a generally flat surface, such as floor, includes a reservoir for providing water to a nozzle. Also included is an air compressor and a compressed air tank. Compressed air is provided in a controlled manner at an elevated pressure to the nozzle to reduce the water to minute droplets which absorb/encapsulate the dust particles and deposit them on the floor surface under the influence of gravity. A manual or automatic pressure regulator coupled to the outlet of the compressed air tank allows for selecting the air velocity and the size of the water droplets to match the size of the dust particles to increase the extent of dust removal. This dust removal approach can be used with virtually any type of generally flat surface and the compressed air has a siphoning effect to increase the water droplets produced and the dust particles removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Minuteman International, Inc.
    Inventor: Ethan Martin
  • Publication number: 20150027490
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for cleansing a glass substrate and a device for performing the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Shihying Sun
  • Publication number: 20150000705
    Abstract: Spray apparatus and uses thereof are described herein. A vacuum spray nozzle apparatus may include a first tube in fluid communication with a fluid source, a rotor coupled to the tube, a conduit in fluid communication with the passages of the first tube, and a second tube coupled to the conduit, the second tube being in fluid communication with a vacuum source. The rotor is in fluid communication with the pressurized fluid source. The conduit is substantially arched or angled such that an outlet of the conduit is offset a radial distance in a radial direction from the rotor axis, and when pressurized fluid is ejected from the outlet, during use, rotates the conduit. The vacuum spray nozzle apparatus is configured to remove components from a material through the second tube when a pressure of the system is reduced using the vacuum source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Dennis Dehn
  • Patent number: 8916002
    Abstract: A portable vacuum includes a container having a sidewall, an open bottom portion, an opposing, open top portion and an attachment opening in the sidewall. A bucket is detachably coupled to the container. A vacuum unit is detachably coupled to and closes off the top portion of the container, the vacuum unit having at least one air inlet and at least one air exhaust port. The vacuum unit is operable to selectably generate an air stream entering the air inlet and exiting the air exhaust port. The portable vacuum also includes an elongate, generally hollow suction tube having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end being detachably coupled to the attachment opening of the container. The air stream generates a vacuum at the second end of the suction tube operable to draw waste material into the suction tube, the waste material being deposited in the bucket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Inventor: James Landolt
  • Publication number: 20140360531
    Abstract: A wafer carrier purge apparatus, an automated mechanical handling system, and a method of handling a wafer carrier during integrated circuit fabrication are provided. The wafer carrier purge apparatus includes a purge plate adapted for insertion into a carrier storage position. The purge plate includes a gas port and a gas nozzle in fluid communication with the gas port. The gas port receives a gas flow. The gas nozzle is adapted to contact an inlet port of a wafer carrier. The purge plate further includes a vacuum port and a vacuum nozzle in fluid communication with the vacuum port, spaced from the gas nozzle. The vacuum nozzle is adapted to capture gas that escapes from the wafer carrier through an outlet port of the wafer carrier. The purge plate is separate and removable from the carrier storage position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: William J. Fosnight, Stephanie Waite, Stephen B. Miner, John Robinson
  • Patent number: 8887351
    Abstract: A sweeping broom apparatus for use with a vehicle comprises a main body with a debris receiving inlet, and a broom shroud with an open bottom. Airflow obstructing flaps are disposed around the bottom edge of the broom shroud. A forwardly facing debris outlet in the broom shroud permits the directed egress of debris therefrom as a forwardly propelled stream of debris. A main sweeping broom is mounted within the broom shroud for propelling debris forwardly, thereby creating a stream of debris propelled forwardly through the forwardly facing debris outlet. An air blast nozzle is connected in fluid communication to a source of compressed air for receiving compressed air therefrom. There is a nozzle mount for mounting the air blast nozzle for movement between a lower position whereat the air blast nozzle is disposed adjacent the surface being cleaned and to emit air in a forward and downward direction to impact on the surface being cleaned, and a raised impact-absorbing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Inventor: Roger P. Vanderlinden
  • Patent number: 8869344
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus is provided. The surface cleaning apparatus comprises a fluid flow path extending from a dirt inlet to a clean fluid outlet, and a fluid flow motor positioned in the fluid flow path. The surface cleaning apparatus further comprises a first cyclonic cleaning stage comprising a cyclone chamber. A dirt chamber is in fluid communication with the cyclone chamber and positioned below the cyclone chamber. The dirt chamber has a dirt chamber inlet that is off-center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: G.B.D. Corp.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 8857013
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaning device comprises a unit (1) in which an oscillating airflow is generated which substantially zero net flow and an asymmetry between the suction and the blowing phases, such that in the blowing phase a jet is generated. A generator (31) which is needed for generating the oscillating airflow comprises a movable surface (30) which is integrated in a wall (12) of a housing (10) having an internal space (11) and at least one opening (13) for allowing air to flow to and from the internal space (11). The jet can be generates when the so-called Strouhal number, being the frequency of the movement of the movable surface (30) multiplied by a characteristic dimension of the opening (13) and divided by the velocity of the air in the opening (13), is not higher than a predetermined maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Gerben Kooijman, Jan Frederik Suijver, Yvonne Wendela Kruijt-Stegeman, Jeroen Herman Lammers
  • Patent number: 8852355
    Abstract: A system for vacuuming out sediment when installed on the inside of a gravity feed, elevated potable water tank or tower holding water at a pressure head of the kind having a riser serving as a water inlet and outlet. The system having a manifold installed along the bottom wall of the tank or tower connected to a plurality of downwardly directed nozzles. The manifold is connected to a drain pipe passing down through the riser and is supported so that the nozzles are positioned above the bottom wall in the vicinity of the sediment. When water is allowed to flow through the drain pipe, the pressure head causes sediment which may otherwise be a health risk and promote electrolytic corrosion to be vacuumed out by the nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Inventor: Joseph James McClelland
  • Patent number: 8840730
    Abstract: A machine for cleaning a head-disk assembly (HDA) of a hard disk drive (HDD) includes a nest that seals the HDA between an upper and lower portion during cleaning. An inlet port receives a gas and an exhaust port exhausts the gas and entrained particles. A shock drive delivers mechanical shocks to the nest and the HDA while the gas is flowing through the HDA. A blower may circulate the gas from the exhaust port to the inlet port. A filter may be coupled to the inlet port. The HDA nest may be movable along an axis of the mechanical shocks delivered by the shock drive. A blow tube may deliver gas to a screw hole and a coaxial vacuum tube may rest against a surface around the screw hole to encapsulate the blow tube during cleaning and remove the gas and particles from the screw hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Pranee Thonghara, Lie Dhani Hastama, Pattira Mokawan